Danaë facts for kids

Danaë is a famous person from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of King Akrisios of Argos. Danaë is also known as the mother of the hero Perseus. Her story is an important part of many ancient Greek tales.

A King's Fear

King Akrisios, Danaë's father, received a scary message from an oracle. An oracle was like a fortune-teller who spoke for the gods. The oracle told him that his own grandchild would one day kill him. This news made King Akrisios very afraid. He wanted to stop this prophecy from coming true.

To prevent Danaë from ever having a child, King Akrisios locked her away. He put her in a tall tower or a special bronze room. No one was allowed to enter this place. He thought this would keep her from meeting anyone and having a baby.

A Golden Surprise

Even though Danaë was locked away, the powerful god Zeus noticed her. Zeus was the king of the gods. He found a way to visit Danaë in her prison. He appeared to her in the form of a beautiful golden rain.

From this magical visit, Danaë became pregnant. She later gave birth to a son. This son was named Perseus, who would grow up to be a very famous hero.

Cast Adrift

When King Akrisios found out about Perseus, he was still terrified. He knew this was the grandchild the oracle had warned him about. He did not want to kill his own daughter or grandson directly.

Instead, he put Danaë and baby Perseus into a large wooden chest or box. He then threw the box into the vast sea. He hoped they would simply disappear. However, Zeus did not forget about them. He asked the sea-god Poseidon to help them.

Thanks to Poseidon, the chest floated safely across the waves. It eventually landed on the shores of an island called Seriphos. On Seriphos, a kind man named Diktys found Danaë and Perseus. Diktys welcomed them into his home. They lived there safely for many years.

A Prophecy Fulfilled

Perseus grew up to be a strong and brave young man. He became a great hero, known for many amazing deeds. A long time after they arrived on Seriphos, Perseus took part in some special games. These were funeral games, held to honor someone who had passed away.

During these games, Perseus was competing in the discus throw. This is a sport where you throw a heavy disc as far as you can. Accidentally, the discus he threw went off course. It hit an old man who was watching the games.

That old man was King Akrisios, Danaë's father. He had traveled to attend the games. The discus hit him, and he died from the injury. Just as the oracle's prophecy had said, King Akrisios was killed by his own grandchild, Perseus.

See also

In Spanish: Dánae para niños